19 



is in combination \vith the potash, but its presence in a fertilizer 

 supposed and advertised to be free from chlorides or where 

 the potash is said to be present as sulphate or carbonate, is just as 

 objectionable as though it was actually in combination with 

 the potash. Whenever the potash is guaranteed to be present 

 as sulphate and the analysis shows the presence of chlorine, a foot 

 note has been used to indicate how much is present in each form. 

 Wherever only very small quantities of chlorides are present the 

 potash has been reported as sulphate. Potash in form of sulphate 

 has been valued at 5 cents per pound. 



\^'henever the potash is guaranteed as carbonate a test has been 

 made for chlorides and sulphates and a foot note indicates how much 

 potash is present in each form. Potash in form of carbonate has 

 been valued at 8 cents per pound. 



Whenever it was known that potash had been derived wholly or 

 in part from organic sources, in mixed fertilizers, a total potash test 

 has been made and will be found reported in a foot note. 

 >fo attempt has been made to place a valuation on that portion 

 of the potash which is insoluble in water. It no doubt has a 

 commercial value, but as we have no basis for establishing its 

 worth, the results have simply been reported without comment. 

 It should not be understood that all of the potash in vege- 

 table organic compounds is insoluble in water. As a matter of fact 

 about 80 per cent of the potash in cottonseed meal is recovered in 

 a water soluble potash test. 



That the valuations in the tables of complete fertilizers fall below 

 the retail cash prices is not surprising. To these valuations should 

 be added the expense of extra handling, grinding and mixing, bagging, 

 transportation, agents commissions, long credits, bad debts, etc., 

 which amount to a considerable sum. In the commercial valuation 

 of ground bones and tankages the calculations are based on a 

 mechanical analysis which states the percentage of fine and coarse 

 bone in each brand. The portion designated as fine bone will pass 

 through a sieve having circular perforations 1-50 of an inch in 

 diameter. That portion designated as coarse bone includes only 

 particles larger than 1-50 of an inch in diameter. 



In computing the valuation, the nitrogen and phosphoric acid 

 value for each grade of mechanical fineness is calculated separately 



